Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-06-24


The THINNING OF FRUITS.
no other horticultural operation has
been so much written about, or has
been so eloquently advocated at the meet
ings, as that of thinning of fruits, by
which we mean the removal of por-
ton of the crop that sets, that the ror-
tion of the crop that remains by having
double rations plant food, may be larger
aud better; yet In spite of all this ex-
penditure of ink and eloquence, how
little Is there ta show for IL? Who
thins fruit upon any large scale? Ii can
be shown by figures, that the one way
to make fruit-growing pay is 20 sell
good fruit at large prices, and that the
one way to have good fruit, is to throw
away one-half or two-thir of it while
it is still young. This may be done be-
fore the flowers have bloomed, by the
operation of disbudding. This rarely
removes enough, and as soon as the
fruit has set a large share il removed.
II it appears that too much still remains
3 the number may be reduced when 1t is
half grown, aud still more, If need be.
just as ripening is about beginning. So
with grapes, a certain number of clus-
tiers of which is apportioned to the age
and strength OF the vine. OF course
precision like this Is not looked for in
market culture, but an approximation
to 1t may be attempted, but let nothing
be carried beyond the point of profit.
fla fruit grower be DESTROYS of testing
the matter, let him select two trees of the
same kind, peach, pear, apple, and also
two grape vines of each kind he pro-
poses TO grow, at the same age, etc.
Allow one Of each kind to go in the
usual way, and with the other, thin out
from one-half to two thirds of the fruit
from the tree soon after it has set fairly.
If when half grown, i. appears that
more thinning will he profitable, do it,
keeping an accurate account of the cost
of doing it. With vines, left to them
selves, each shoot usually bears three
clusters, sometimes more, they leaving
two clusters and also one, Oh each shoot.
and also in pinching the cane back to
three, two or one leaf beyond the bunch
or punches. lis expected that the iu-
creased value of the fruit, the price at
which it is sold, will leave handsome
profit.
WEED Our THE FLoCK.-This is the
best season for classification Of ewes,
disposing of the poorest. By this time
correct judgment of the lamb or lambs
reared by each eve can be formed; and
the weight Of each fleece is also known.
The profitableness of eve depends
upon the number and quality of the
lambs she raises, her weight Of wool.
etc. One eve may raise a lamb while
another loses hers; yet the former will
shear such poor fleece that she is really
the less profitable. The loss of lamb
often occurs through no fault of the
eve. Nevertheless, prolificacy is de-
sirable quality in eve. A good eve
properly treated before and after wean-
ing, can rear two good lambs without
injury TO herself. Some ewes are better
mothers than others.
1t certainly will not be profitable to
keep the inferior sheep through next
winter. If the classification is made
now, the rejected class can be made
ready for market on grass; which makes
the cheapest flesh. Many farmers will
find the most profitable market for these
culls on their own farms. Truly there
is q prejudice among consumers against
aged ewes. A lean sheep does not make
good mutton, whatever its age. 1t is
not claimed that fattening an old eve
will make her yield the best mutton;
but it may be made good and palatable.
When the ewes are cuiled out every
year, there will be soon no very old ones.
This is not the season for the consump-
tion OF salt pork; and all things consid-
cred, mutton will be a good thing for
the farmers larder.
MULCHING AND CULTIvATIoN.-Expe-
rience has abundantly shown that
mulching the ground not only adds to
its fertility by the decay of the mulch
itself, bnt it also retains large amount
of ammonia from the air. All have OBJ
served that soil covered with mulch
keeps more porous and friable than
when left exposed to the sun and dry
ing winds. Earthworms contribute to-
ward fertility by their holes, through
which the air easily penetrates, impart-
ing fertility, which the soil absorbs. a
piece of ground, a part of which had
been in strawberries and mulched with
salt hay for three years, showed great
advantage from the mulch. When plow-
ed, this mulched part broke up very
finely, while the other part was very
lumpy. 1t was all planted the same day
with corn, which came up in five days
on the mulched portion, and was about
two weeks coming up on the rest, and
much Of 1t failed to come up at all. The
after culture was alike yet there was
much more vigorous growth on the part
which had been mulched. Soils not
. only have the power of absorbing am
monia from the Sir, but also from water
that holds it in solution. BY retaining
the water so enriched, mulch adds to
the fertility Of the soil. Besides the adj